Error minimization of polynomial approximation of Delta T

The difference between Universal time (UT) and Dynamical time (TD), known as Delta T (ΔT) is tabulated for the first day of each year in the Astronomical Almanac. During the last four centuries it is found that there are large differences between its values for two consecutive years. Polynomial approximations have been developed to obtain the values of ΔT for any time of a year for the period AD 1620 to AD 2000 (Meeu 2000) as no dynamical theories describe the variations in ΔT. In this work, a new set of polynomials for ΔT is obtained for the period AD 1620 to AD 2007 that is found to produce better results compared to previous attempts.     

Initiation of a convective dust storm over North India on 21 April 2010 inferred using satellite data

Dust storms commonly occur during the pre-monsoon (summer) season in north and northwest parts of India. Characteristics of dust events of the pressure gradient type are well understood. However, comprehensive studies on mechanism of convective dust storms in India are few. A convective dust storm which occurred on 21 April 2010 in association with a western disturbance over North India was hence studied. In the absence of in situ data, we used available satellite data to study the event. Dust storm that occurred on 20 April 2010 on the surface of the Thar Desert transported dust to northern and northwestern parts of India (Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi and some parts of Uttar Pradesh). This formed a background of aerosols that affected the thunderstorm formed in association with western disturbance and the strong updraft in the thunderstorm carried the dust lingering in the atmosphere to higher altitudes. Large amount of aerosols carried to higher altitude suppressed the chance of precipitation by affecting the cloud top microphysics. Enhancement in evaporation due to an increase in aerosol concentration and strong downdrafts during dissipation of the thunderstorm resulted in emission of dust particles which led to the convective dust event of 21 April 2010.     

Drift solitary structures in inhomogeneous degenerate quantum plasmas with trapped electrons

In the present work, we have considered the nonlinear effects due to trapped electrons in an inhomogeneous degenerate quantum plasma. The formation of drift solitary structures has been investigated for both fully and partially degenerate plasmas. The Sagdeev potential approach has been employed to obtain arbitrary amplitude solitary structures. Interestingly, for a fixed value of density, not only compressive but rarefactive solitary structures have been obtained for a certain temperature range. Furthermore, it has been observed that the drift solitary structures exist only for the case when the drift velocity is smaller than the velocity of the nonlinear structure. The theoretical results obtained have been analyzed numerically for the parameters typically found in white dwarfs and the relevance of the results with regard to white dwarf asteroseismology is also pointed out.     

Temporal variations of mesozooplankton abundance and biomass in the mangrove creek area along the Karachi coast, Pakistan

The temporal variations of mesozooplankton abundance and biomass （1-Volumetric method by settling volume and displacement volume and 2- Gravimetric method through wet weight, dry weight and ash-free dry weight） with relation to environmental parameters were studied in the mangrove creek area of Karachi coast, Pakistan. The data of mesozooplankton samples along with environmental parameters （temperature, salinity, pH, etc.） were collected during January 1998 to December 1998 from two creek stations. The abun-dance of mesozooplankton also exhibited seasonal trends at both stations. At Sta. S2, the highest and low-est abundance values were observed during post-monsoon and southwest monsoon respectively whereas, at Sta. S1, a clear trend of high abundance in pre-monsoon to low abundance in southwest monsoon was observed. Mesozooplankton abundance was also positively correlated with settling volume, displacement volume, wet weight and dry weight. The highest biomass value was observed in the northeast monsoon and pre-monsoon periods. The results of the canonical analysis of the output from the discriminate function was tested. Out of fifteen variables, only one was significantly different in single character ratios dry weight/ash free-dry weight （F3,23=4.78,P＆lt;0.005）. The mesozooplankton community was collectively composed of 28 taxa. Among these groups, copepoda （66.3%）, gastropod larvae （9.94%）, evadne （4.60%）, zoea （3.60%）, cypris nauplii （2.56%）, lemellibranch larvae （1.87%）, chaetognaths （1.81%）, ostracods （1.73%）, lucifer （1.15%） and barnacles nauplii （1.35%） contributed the most to the similarities within Sta. S1, while copepoda （74.68%）, cypris nauplii （5.29%）, gastropods （4.87%）, barnacles nauplii （4.81%）, evadne （1.72%）, zoea （1.53%） and ca-ridean larvae （1.18%） at Sta. S2. The remaining mesozooplanktonic group were accounted for less than 5% and 6% at Sta. S1 and Sta. S2 respectively, of the total organisms. Similarity perce     

Ionic Liquid Modified Resin for the Adsorptive Removal of Dibutyl Phthalate: Equilibrium,Kinetic, and Thermodynamic Studies

This study evaluated the adsorptive properties of dibutyl phthalate (DBP) on room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) modified XAD‐4 resin. The modified RTIL‐XAD 4 sorbent was characterized by FTIR. Effect of varying experimental conditions such as pH, contact time, temperature, shaking speed, concentrations, and interfering species were investigated by batch adsorption experiments. Adsorption was found to be most favorable at pH 6 within 30 min. Experimental data were evaluated in terms of kinetic, equilibrium, and thermodynamic modeling. Kinetics of the sorption was found to follow pseudo second order rate equation whereas Freundlich and D–R isotherms were the most suitable models to explain sorption phenomenon. Thermodynamically sorption was endothermic, irreversible, and spontaneous in nature.     

The CO2 absorption method as an alternative to benzene synthesis method forC dating

A fast and economical routine sample preparation system is described for direct counting of¹⁴C for hydrological purposes. The method employs commercially available CO₂ absorbers, such as Carbosorb, and liquid scintillation counters. The maximum error involved individual analyses is about ±4pmc (1 δ) on the Beckman counter and about ±2 pmc on the Quantulus counter with a resulting detection limit of 21,000–29,000 a for the Beckman LS7500 and 1220 Quantulus, respectively for a counting time of 1000 min. To avoid physical weighing procedures, an indirect method is presented to determine the grams of C absorbed in the counting solution by using the H-# quench monitor technique available in the Beckman liquid scintillation counters. On one sample preparation system at least five samples can be prepared per normal working day. The applicability of the CO₂-absorption method is discussed with reference to two field sites and with reference to comparisons with data obtained on the same samples measured with conventional techniques.     

EMEC instability based on kappa-Maxwellian distributed trapped electrons in auroral plasma

In space plasmas, particle distributions are often observed having high energy tails and are well fitted by kappa distribution function. However, in auroral region electrons are expected to be accelerated mainly along the magnetic field lines and one may expect Maxwellian behaviour in perpendicular direction. Therefore, in the present study propagation characteristics of electromagnetic electron cyclotron (EMEC) waves is studied by employing kappa-Maxwellian distribution function for energetic trapped electrons in auroral region. Real frequency and the growth rate expressions have been solved numerically for kappa-Maxwellian plasma and then analyzed by considering the effect of different plasma parameters for wide range of auroral altitudes. The numerical results obtained show that growth rate increases with the increase in ratio \({\omega_{pe}} / {\varOmega_{e}}\), plasma beta, temperature anisotropy \({T_{\bot}} / {T_{\parallel}}\) and trapped electron drift speed but decreases when superthermal electron population increases.